What does our new crime “dashboard” say about West Hollywood?

Short answer: West Hollywood’s adjusted crime rate is lower than in nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods, but higher than in other Westside cities, and it is rising back toward the pre-2013 level

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We just introduced a “dashboard” with high-level crime statistics for West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles, Santa Monica and 458 other California cities. You can read about it here or go directly to the dashboard here. This report summarizes what the dashboard says about crime in West Hollywood.

Overall level of crime

The crime rate is the number of violent and property crimes reported in a year, divided by the population. It’s the most common way of comparing crime across jurisdictions and time periods. The FBI and the State of California use it. We estimate that West Hollywood’s 2016 crime rate is 527 crimes per 10,000 residents. That’s extrapolated from the Sheriff’s numbers for the first nine months of the year.

The dashboard uses an adjusted crime rate that takes into account the seriousness of the underlying crimes. If a city has more crimes like armed robbery and fewer like petty theft, the crime rate is adjusted up. If a city has proportionately fewer serious crimes, the rate is adjusted down. For West Hollywood, the adjustment is small.

Crime trend

In an earlier report, we discussed the very large long-term drop in crime. The number of violent and property crimes declined 63% between 1986 and 2015.

The dashboard focuses on the last 10 years or so. We see a significant drop in 2013. The adjusted crime rate stayed around 450 for three years. It’s going back up in 2016, though it’s still below the pre-2013 level.

Change in crime

If our estimates are correct, the adjusted crime rate is up 14% this year versus 2015. That would leave the rate a bit lower than it was 10 years ago.

Comparison to nearby communities

Based on the adjusted crime rate, crime is lower in West Hollywood than in Los Angeles’ Fairfax, Beverly Grove, and Hollywood neighborhoods. It is higher here than in Beverly Hills, Culver City, and Santa Monica.

Comparison to all California cities

West Hollywood’s adjusted crime rate puts it in the 89th percentile among California cities.

How often different types of crime happen

West Hollywood experiences five violent crimes — such as robbery or aggravated assault — per week on average. A burglary or stolen vehicle happens once a day. Thefts are more common.

Differences in types of crime

West Hollywood has more aggravated assaults and thefts than the California average, but fewer stolen vehicles.

Short answer: West Hollywood's adjusted crime rate is lower than in nearby Los Angeles neighborhoods, but higher than in other Westside cities, and it is rising back toward the pre-2013 level|
We just introduced a 'dashboard' with high-level crime statistics for West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles,...

DavidWarrendavid_warren@post.harvard.eduAdministratorWeHo by the Numbers

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reports using data to explore city government policy, performance, and community issues. Focused on West Hollywood (WeHo), Beverly Hills, Culver City, Los Angeles, and Santa Monica. Researched and written by David Warren as a private citizen. This is not a government website.